How to use in your fleet

The Raider is eponymously designed to make runs at AI guard posts and hound at isolated heavy targets. One might consider them as nimble mid-range Bombers, and use them for effective Guard Post hunting (although not gate-raiding). It may be a weak ship by itself, but it can to used to both kite and hunt down long-range vessels.

Raiders and Space Planes fill similar niches: the former can serve better as a general combat vessel, while the latter is more specialised (and possibly somewhat better overall).

How to counter when in the AI fleet

Defenses against an overwhelming number of these ships come down to effective Gravitational Turret placement. They are not strong individually, and will lose to Missile Frigates when caught.